Volunteers are the Backbone of Civil Defence

Civil Defence is primarily organised on voluntary basis except for a small nucleus of paid staff and establishment which is augmented during emergencies.

The present target of Civil Defence volunteers is 12.49 lakhs, out of which 6.0 lakhs have already been raised and 4.8 lakhs have been trained. These volunteers are administered and trained by 68 Deputy Controllers, 17 Medical Officers and 503 Nos. of C. D. Instructors, which are full time paid posts.

Although the Civil Defence Act 1968 is applicable throughout the country, the organisation is only raised in such areas and zones which are tactically and strategically considered vulnerable from enemy attack points of view.

Activities of Civil Defence Volunteers

Apart from intensive training and demonstration of Civil Defence measures during peace time, Civil Defence volunteers are deployed, on voluntary basis, in various constructive and nation building activities. This includes for example the assistance to the administration in relief and rescue work during natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, cyclones and droughts by the State Government/Union Territories.

Civil Defence training is conducted in the country on a three tier concept, i.e., local/town level, at state level and at National level. The National Civil Defence College, Nagpur - a subordinate training establishment of the Ministry - conducts basic and advanced courses in Civil Defence and Disaster Relief Management.

For 2012 NCDC has projected 25 courses. Since the inception of the college in 1957, NCDC trained 35,930 trainees including 8 foreign students.